The tomb itself is five stories high and resembles a stepped pyramid, with each level smaller than the previous one. Most of the building is made of the area’s red sandstone, but the top floor is a pavilion with latticed walls of carved white marble. Akbar’s tomb subscribes to Mughal tradition, in that is has a cenotaph, or “empty tomb,” on its highest story for the public to visit, while the actual sarcophagus is buried in a private crypt in the basement.